The Drug Abuse Prevention Council Prepares for New Campaign

Ellington’s own Drug Abuse Prevention Council held their monthly meeting Tuesday at and kept up on some housekeeping business. 

The DAPC is home to programs like Youth Services, Rise Above, and the Parent Connection.

At the meeting, events put on by the department of Human Services were discussed, like Rise Above’s recent success, game night. Game night attracted 50-plus students, and Prevention Coordinator Debbie Stauffer described it as a “teen center for a night.”

Rise Above is also putting together prom favors, and sponsoring all of the kids games for the Fair on the Green on May 7, including a dunk tank. They are also hosting the last dodgeball game of the year tomorrow. 

The DAPC members also discussed the GSA, or Gay Straight Alliance. It was a club at the high school last year, but was taken out this school year and Youth Services is looking to add the GSA to its list of community programs for next year rather than attempting to get it reinstated back in the school system. 

In addition to the GSA, four Ellington teachers are going to “Safe Schools” programming to learn how to make classrooms a safe environment for gay and lesbian youth. 

The DAPC, and all of its subdivisions, are keeping the community involved in a health way, but more importantly, they are getting ready to launch their new campaign.

Beginning May 16, the DAPC will have billboards, postcards, and lawn signs dedicated to making the public aware of the consequences of underage drug use, including alcohol consumption. 

“This campaign will not go away,” said Kathy Larew, a member of the Parent Connection. 

The goal is to go beyond the initial target group and the campaign slogan will transform to actually target different groups. 

Keep your eyes peeled in May for the DAPC’s big unveiling of their new campaign.